POL 220/01: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Fall Semester 2005
Instructor: Dr. David I. Petts
TR 11.00-12.15 VE201
Office: Terrell 304 Campus Ext. 6218 e-mail: David.Petts@cpcc.edu
Office Hours: MWF 12.30-3.00; TR 10.00-11.00am, 2.00-3.00pm., and by appointment.
This course provides a study of the effects of ideologies, trade, armaments, and alliances on
relations among nation-states. Emphasis is placed on regional and global co-operation and
conflict, economic development, trade, non-governmental organizations, and international
institutions such as the World Court and the UN. Upon completion, students should be able to
identify and discuss major international relationships, institutions, and problems. This course
has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core
requirement in social/behavioral sciences.
Textbook: Roskin, Michael G., and Berry, Nicholas O., IR: The New World of International
Relations (6th. Edition), 2005
OUTLINE AND ASSIGNMENTS:
Week 1. (Aug.15-19) Introduction: key concepts and changing patterns of relationships.
Reading assignment: Roskin & Berry, Chap. 1.
Week 2. (Aug.22-26) Diplomacy: the history and tradition of peaceful political international
interaction. Reading: Roskin & Berry, Chap. 19.
Week 3. (Aug. 29-Sept.2) War: history and purposes. Roskin and Berry, Chap. 12.
Week 4. (Sept.6-9) Nuclear war, deterrence theory, and proliferation. Roskin and Berry,
Chaps.13 & 14. (Labor Day Holiday, Mon. Sept. 5)
First Mid-term exam: Thurs. Sept. 8th.
Week 5. (Sept.12-16) United States foreign policy in the 20th century. Roskin & Berry, Chap.2.
Week 6. (Sept.19-23) The Soviet Union and the Cold War. Roskin and Berry, Chap. Chap.5
Week 7. (Sept.25-30) The United States in the post-Cold War World. Roskin & Berry, Chap. 4.
Second Mid-term exam: Thurs. Sept. 29th.
Week 8. (Oct.3-7) International Law. Roskin & Berry, Chap. 20
Week 9. (Oct.12-14) The United Nations: History and mission. Roskin & Berry, Chap. 21
(Fall Break, Oct.11-12.)
Week 10. (Oct.17-21) The United Nations: organization and agency work..
Week 11. (Oct.24-28) The European Union: history and potential. Roskin & Berry, Chap. 16.
Third Mid-term exam: Thurs. Oct.27.
Week 12. (Oct.31-Nov.4) Areas of continued tension: 1. The Middle East and the terrorist
threat. Roskin & Berry, Chaps. 8, 9, & 15.
Week 13. (Nov.7-11) Areas of continued tension: 2. Anarchy in Africa. Roskin and Berry,
Chap. 7.
(Nov. 16 – Last day to withdraw.)
Week 14. (Nov.14-18) Globalization. Roskin & Berry Chaps. 11 & 18
Week 15. (Nov.21-23) Catch up and complete. (Thanksgiving Holiday, Nov.24-25)
Week 16. (Nov. 28-Dec.2) Review.
Classes end Mon. Dec. 5th.
Final Exam: Tues. Dec.6th. 11.00-1.30
COMPOSITION OF COURSE GRADE:
First Mid-term exam: 20%
Second Mid-term exam: 20%
Third Mid-term exam: 20%
Final exam: 30%
Options: 10% (Service Learning; Model United Nations; treaty study.)
NOTE: Options, additional information.
1. Service Learning at CPCC. The Community College National Center for Community
Engagement has defined service-learning as “a teaching method which combines
community service with academic instruction as it focuses on critical, reflective thinking
and civic responsibility. Service-learning programs involve students in organized
community service that addresses local needs, while developing their academic skills,
sense of civic responsibility, and commitment to the community.” Service-learning at
CPCC is facilitated and administered by the Service Learning Center which develops and
maintains partnerships with numerous agencies in the greater Charlotte community and
assists students in placement. Detailed information can be found at
http://www.cpcc.edu/service%2Dlearning/.
Students who choose the Service-learning option will work with the Service Learning
Center in identifying an agency where the student will work for at least twenty hours
during the semester on projects which both meet the needs of the agency’s mission and
provide an opportunity to enhance the student’s ability to describe, analyze and evaluate
international institutions, international relationships and identify and illustrate
contemporary issue areas. Students will be required to write a reflective essay of
approximately 1000 words describing their service learning experience and explaining
how it related to the academic objectives of this class.
Students who choose the Service-learning option will be responsible for their own
transportation to and from their agency.
2. Model United Nations. CPCC Model United Nations (MUN) is a student organization
operating under the auspices of the Student Life office, and is open to all students. The
club is student run and directed. Rick Coulter (Instructor in Sociology) and I serve as
faculty advisers. Members of MUN learn about the organization and functions of the
United Nations and prepare for participation in MUN conferences hosted by four year
institutions in different parts of the country throughout the academic year. At these
conferences the CPCC team is assigned a country to represent, and they prepare by
researching the background and policies of this country and then advocate and defend
those policies in the various (model) committees and agencies of the United Nations.
The MUN typically meets for one to two hours each week for this purpose. MUN
engages in fund –rasing activities, but does receive some financial assistance from
Student Life. A peer-grading system will be used to evaluate the contribution and
leadership of students participating in MUN.
3. Treaty Reports. Students will be required to write reports on two international treaties
of their own choice. One must be a bilateral treaty, and the other a multi-lateral treaty.
The treaties can be from any historical period, except that the United States must be a
party to at least one of them. The paper should describe the origins of the agreement, its
negotiation, principal terms, and summarize its accomplishments. Each paper should be
approximately 1000 words.
4. Options related deadlines. Friday, Aug. 26th. Option choice to be made.
Friday, Sept. 23rd. Service-learning placement process
Complete.
th
Friday, Nov. 18 . Service hours completed.
Wednesday, Nov.23rd. Service-learning essay and treaty
reports due.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Regular attendance in class is very important to ensure understanding of the course material.
You are responsible for arranging to make-up any material missed due to absence. If you are not
able to take a scheduled test please let me know in advance. You will not be allowed to take a
make-up test after the graded test has been returned to the class. More than five unexcused
absences will affect your attendance grade.
WITHDRAWAL:
Please discuss it with me before withdrawing from the class; I will make every effort to enable
you to complete the course if it is possible. The grade of W can only be assigned to students
who have completed the College’s withdrawal procedures. The last day to withdraw is Nov.
16th.
SPECIAL SERVICES:
Students who have a documented disability or who think they may have a learning problem may
contact the Student Support Services Office at 704.330.6532/6394. Necessary accommodations
will be provided upon the advice of that office.